Guardian retracts NUFC racism accusation.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 | 82 Comments |
“When Andy Cole made his debut at Newcastle’s St James’s Park, Taylor, then a student in the city, recalls: “There were protests outside the ground. But Andy scored a hat-trick that day and we heard no more from the protesters.”
The newspaper has since replaced the statement with an extremely convoluted retraction, though no formal apology from the already discredited rag to the fans of Newcastle United seems to be forthcoming for the latest offence caused.
Already widely disliked in the North East for it’s vitriolic, and mostly completely innaccurate pieces on Newcastle United from the aforementioned Louise Taylor, The Guardian attempted to wriggle their way out of the controversy, seemingly, only at the behest of Simon Taylor himself, by saying in their regular ‘Corrections and Clarifications’ column:
“A piece about an initiative to foster young Asian footballers made a historical reference to racism in the game, and quoted an interviewee recalling that when Andrew Cole made his debut at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, “There were protests outside the ground. But Andy scored a hat-trick that day and we heard no more from the -protesters.”
“To clarify, this referred to Cole’s first home game (his debut had been at Swindon). The player scored a goal, not a hat-trick. The reference to protests suggested there were demonstrations; rather, the speaker was referring to accounts from eyewitnesses at the match who reported seeing suspected National Front agitators handing out racist literature outside the ground. The -interviewee asks us to note that the context for his quote was a discussion of the positive role of fans and respected players in overcoming racism in the game: “The point I was making was in praise of Newcastle fans who shunned a few people at the time who were attempting to stir up trouble” (Search for a British Asian soccer star kicks off, 26 May, page 2, Society).”
Meanwhile, Taylor himself emailed a complainant with a partial explanation and personal apology to the writer as follows:
“I thought it may be helpful to explain that the comments you refer to are an out-of-context part of an interview in which I spoke generally about racism within the game, the lack of Asian players and how role models can help inspire and overcome prejudice.
“I’m personally disappointed that my quote has come across in a negative way. What is missing from the piece is the fact that the groups I was referring to were explicitly not Newcastle supporters. The quote does not, nor would I ever, imply that Newcastle fans racially abused Andrew Cole. In fact the point I was making was in praise of Newcastle fans who shunned the minority who were attempting to stir up trouble at the time.
“I would never say these people were Newcastle or indeed football fans, in fact I would suspect the opposite to be true. Having lived in the city for seven years and having been back to St James Park subsequently I have nothing but the utmost respect for Newcastle fans.
“The wider point lost in the piece was how fans have been instrumental in overcoming racism within the game and how players and role models such as Andrew Cole, and in the case of Chelsea – Paul Canoville and Paul Elliott, deserve a great deal of credit in the fight against racism.
“I do hope this email helps to explain the context of the quotes and I can only apologise if anyone has taken offence.”
Unlike the Guardian, at least Taylor had the grace to apologise, though he does not furnish us with the ‘missing’ parts of the interview, instead saying:
“The quote does not, nor would I ever, imply that Newcastle fans racially abused Andrew Cole. In fact the point I was making was in praise of Newcastle fans who shunned the minority who were attempting to stir up trouble at the time.”
Mr. Taylor, where exactly does that quote praise the Newcastle fans shunning the minority who were attempting to stir up trouble at the time? It does the opposite saying that it was a (non-existent) Andy Cole hat-trick that which stopped the protests, which implies very strongly that it was in fact the supporters who were either behind the alleged racism, or that it took a goal from Andy Cole to stop the fans sympathising with the alleged racist agitators. If you “would never say these people were Newcastle or indeed football fans”, why would it matter whether Andy Cole had scored a hat-trick, or just one goal for the team or not? Also, where was it made clear in the quote that you were merely passing on secondhand reports of the game, and not speaking from your own experience? If The Guardian took a small piece of your interview and printed it out of all context, fine, but the quote itself, in isloation, says none of those things, and your after the fact qualification smacks of something that has been cobbled together once you realised that some Geordies actually read the Guardian, and are rightfully outraged at being branded as racist.
Keep digging that hole, Steven.
NUFCBlog Author: workyticket
workyticket has written 1091 articles on this blog.
About time!
There’s certainly going to be racism rife in town tomorrow when the EDL march through to castle keep and the anti fascists and other opposition protest against them. Expect there to be hell on, I just hope they don’t tear the place down.
Fortunately I’m not in work because Linekers Bar will be full of tossers again. Town was heaving with likely groups on the way to the station. Out to enjoy the sunshine, nightlife and maybe a ruck later and then ready to cause havoc in the morning.
Of course allegedly they’re marching against the ban of flying flags for the World Cup and over stating patriotism. Not that any of that is happening but even the possibility is worth getting upset about and demonstrating. Apparently…
Off out for a run. Surely there should be a Friday rule to stop me?